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Department of Justice

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Monday, August 4, 2014

Six Alleged Members of the Almighty Imperial Gangsters Nation Gang Indicted

Five alleged members of the violent Almighty Imperial Gangsters Nation gang have been indicted by a federal grand jury in the Southern District of Florida for their roles in multiple murders. A sixth alleged gang member was indicted for unlawfully possessing a firearm.

Assistant Attorney General Leslie R. Caldwell of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, U.S. Attorney Wifredo A. Ferrer and Special Agent in Charge George L. Piro of the FBI’s Miami Field Office made the announcement.

“According to charges unsealed today, members of the Almighty Imperial Gangsters Nation committed multiple murders and racketeering crimes, injecting violence and chaos into communities in Chicago, Miami and Indiana,” said Assistant Attorney General Caldwell. “Gang violence is a serious, nationwide problem, and the Department pursues a nationwide strategy, working with federal, state, and local law enforcement to dismantle the gangs and stop the bloodshed.”

The indictment returned by a federal grand jury on July 31, 2014, and unsealed today charges Jose Herrera, aka “Spyro,” 27, Leonel Carrera, aka “Leo,” 25, Victor Lopez, aka “Magic,” 28, Ramon Madruga, aka “Porky,” 28 and Alex Enrique Somarriba, aka “A-Rock,” 27, all of Miami, with conspiracy to participate in racketeering activity, including murder. Brandon Foeman, aka “Drama,” 28, of Weston, Florida, was charged with being a felon in possession of a firearm. The six defendants are in custody.

According to the indictment, Herrera, Carrera, Lopez, Madruga and Somarriba are members of the Almighty Imperial Gangsters Nation, which is a nationally-known organized street gang that originated in the northwest side of Chicago and spread to other regions of the United States, including South Florida. Members and associates of the Almighty Imperial Gangsters Nation allegedly engaged in acts of violence, including murder, attempted murder, battery, aggravated battery, and aggravated assault, as well as narcotics distribution and other criminal activities. Specifically, the indictment charges that the gang is responsible for three murders in Miami, one in Chicago and one East Chicago, Indiana, including the murders of Rivky Josma on Aug. 4, 2006,Hockynson Sanchez on Nov. 20, 2007, and Mauricio Waikay on Feb. 25, 2011.

This case is being investigated by the FBI field offices in Miami and Chicago, and the FBI and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives field offices in Merrillville, Indiana, along with the Miami-Dade Police Department, the City of Miami Police Department, the Chicago Police Department, the Franklin Park, Illinois, Police Department, and the East Chicago Police Department. The Florida Department of Corrections and the Broward County Sheriff’s Office assisted with this case.

The case is being prosecuted by Joseph A. Cooley and Rebecca A. Staton of the Criminal Division’s Organized Crime and Gang Section, as well as the Forfeiture Section of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Florida, with the assistance of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Indiana and the State Attorneys’ Offices for Miami-Dade and Broward Counties.

The charges contained in the indictment are merely accusations, and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.